The analogies are perfect but you can't seem to understand the idea that people don't progress just because they are given insane opportunities they have not earned nor how that destroys the other players on the team. At this point it's cool. You've landed on the most obvious conclusion ever that giving someone more powerplay time will increase their point totals but can't see anything past that. It's the type of cutting edge analysis this board thrives on!
you should really go and listen to any podcast that has former players talking about how they develop best. your logic is rooted in the business world. which is perfectly fine in the biz world. But it doesn't translate to player development in sports.
Is Laffy ever gonna be Connor McDavid? Or Patrick Kane? No. Definitely not. Is he a generational talent? No. And I don't think that's a question of development. I think that's just the reality of Laffy as a player at this point and I don't think that's on the Rangers. Though i still think he has a shot to be one of the best players from that draft class.
McDavid, Crosby, Kane and even Makar came to the NHL far more advanced in their skill level, IQ and skating and thus they took off right away. They are truly special talents. Bedard may end up in that category too. And in Crosby, McDavid and Kane's cases, they were just 18 and 19 year olds.
Laffy didn't show up that ready. And neither did Kakko. (or Chytil) Both required more development. And by mid-way through their first year with the NHL club, the Rangers should have known it was going to take quite a bit more time and effort to development them at the NHL level. Because at that point, we knew those two weren't ready to make a huge impact yet and they were pretty much stuck having to develop at the NHL. It's at that point the Rangers needed to figure out a plan to get these kids more minutes than they "deserved." Or force feed them linemates and positions they would likely fail in for a while. The issue is, the Rangers would try that for a few games here and there, but their patience (or the Coach's patience) has been terrible. Because of Dolan, because of the market or having a veteran core that you also owe a responsibilty to the coach was too worried about winning.
It means the issues in both Kakko and Laf's games and also Chytil's (who should have been a 2nd line center by now) have lagged. it's just the reality. I'm willing to remain patient as most players dont' start hitting their prime until around age 23 or so. and that means you can have a prime Kakko and Laf for 8 years each. And if they both turn into 80 pt power forwards that will bode well for the future.
At the moment, I'm a bit lower on Laf than I am on Kakko and Chytil because I see both Kakko and Chytil's improvements year on year. I see them getting bigger, stronger, tougher and more well rounded. I frankly have not seen the same from Laf. I think his game is missing some responsibility. Some growth in forechecking and D zone and routes to pucks. But I will say this... all 3 of these kids came to the NHL knowing how to play with the puck on their stick. All 3 were guys who dominated with the play going through them. And I will say that the hardest part of each of their developments (which is still very much so on going) has been their play without the puck in the offensive zone. In that respect, I think Laffy has done a better job than the others at creating offense without the puck. Laffy has shown an aptitude for driving the net, tipping pucks, getting to the backdoor. And if he could just work on his stamina and his skating and D zone awareness he'll be more trusted to stay on a line with Panarin or Zib. And it would help a lot. And to a large extent that's on him.
That said, i'm hoping and praying that the new staff can implement a system that hides weaknesses and mistakes as a team and as individuals so that the younger guys don't have to worry about being benched or moved around the lineup with every mistake. The leash was too short with Gallant. Especially with Kakko. And Chytil. But it hurt Laffy the most becasue frankly he needed the most work defensively. Chytil, last season, did a better job of being in the right general area defensively but he wouldn't necessarily engage enough. He wouldn't body someone off the puck. Break up a seam pass. That kind of thing. And as a center he just needs to have a bigger impact in his own zone breaking up plays and turning pucks around.
In any case, there's absolutely cause for concern about what Laffy is or will be. I don't even care where he was picked at this point. I just want him to turn into a 1st line player. Someone who makes a team notice him every time he steps on the ice. He's absolutely not that (not in a good way at least). But I also think the roles these kids have been put in have been a detriment at times. This idea that putting them together as a 3rd line is a good way to develop them offensively is nuts. It's not the roles they should be developing in. Not an ideal way to develop super high end talent. And frankly, it's poor team construction to have a 3rd line centered by Fil Chytil and Laffy on the wing because it means you're not using your 3rd line to shut down other team's top lines. Which means, your top 6 not only gets all the PP and high leverage offensive minutes but also all the important D assignments. That's not really great for winning. And it's also not great for development of young high end talent who not only need reps, but they need reps in situations that aren't just sheltered.
Alexis Lafrenière
Alex Killorn
Phillip Danault
Bo Horvat
Artemi Panarin
Jonathan Huberdeau
Alex Tuch
Vladimir Tarasenko
Andrei Svechnikov
Patrice Bergeron
Tyler Toffoli
